10/05: Game 2, ALDS Yankees @ Indians
Posted by: James
-First couple of innings, it's the Melky show. Cabrera makes me look dumb for questioning his place as a starter by gunning down Johnny Pheralta at home to keep the game scoreless in the first. In the top of the third, he gets some good wood on an off-speed pitch and pokes it inside the right-field foul pole. 1-0 Yankees.
-Non-baseball, TBS-related rant:
WHAT IS FRANK TV ABOUT? I mean, I've seen Frank's stand up special on Comedy Central and I thought it was pretty good...but does he just do impersonations? Because if that's it - he just went through a ton of material in all these different commercials (I've counted six so far).
More TBS notes: Frank Thomas comes off as a pretty good guy; knowledgeable but he definitely needs some work to become a better speaker. More often than not, the video clip is over before he starts his observation. Still, I'm not gonna be the guy to tell him to work on that - look at the size guy's dome! He would hurt me.
As for the rest of the panel, I actually find myself really enjoying Cal Ripken. He is well-spoken, provides good observations and is candid. I personally can't ask for much more than that.
-Man, Grady Sizemore can fly. He went first to third as quick as anyone I've seen not named Ichiro!
-Win or lose - even if Pettitte doesn't get another out in the game, he has done an unbelieveable job this start. 5 times this game, the Indians have gotten the leadoff man on and 5 times, Andy's left the inning unscathed. Unbelievable job - this is why he was brought back.
-Top of the 7th, Abreu gets on because of a fielding error. With the heart of the order up, you gotta find a way to get that run home. I know it's easier said than done...but still. Also, if Matsui comes up with RISP, PINCH HIT. For the sake of my sanity, please pinch hit for Godzilla.
-A-Rod is not helping his cause right now...and I'm not trying to make excuses, but you gotta tip your hat to the pitcher on this as well. Also, Matsui stays in...come on Hideki, make Joe look good for keeping you in there and me look bad for doubting you. Hideki grounds out...and Jorge gets good wood on the ball but a great jump and the speed of Sizemore makes it the third out.
-Pettitte is at 88 pitches through 6 and one-third with a man on second and the Yankee killer Kenny Lofton up at the plate. First things first, start warming up Joba and Viz.
-92 pitches, first and second with one out. Here comes Joe and in comes Joba. If this was the Stadium, Pettitte would be getting a standing O. For now, he has to live with me clapping for him from Philly...I hope he can hear me. Heck of a performance.
-Joba to Franklin Guitterez: You can't see me. What stuff this kid has...
-Joba to Casey Blake: 99 mph to start...fly ball to right. Yankees out of the inning. 5 pitches, all strikes, 2 outs. See Farnsworth? THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE!
-Heh. Frank Caliendo/Al Pacino makes a good point. Dane Cook - does anyone think that there's two Octobers? Also, of all the guys I would think off...when I think baseball...I don't think Dane Cook. My choice would have been Alyssa Milano...what? She knows her baseball! She's a Dodger's fan but hey, no one's perfect.
-Carmona has been spectacular. Wow. Great stuff and not yet 24. He, C.C. and Sizemore give the Indians a heck of a core to build around.
-Mosquitoes being used as a segue to a joke about the Nats (Nationals) being gnats during the last week...TBS - we know comedy.
-The Yankees go down easy in the top of the 8th. I think that the flies gave Carmona more trouble than the Yankees did in that inning.
-Leading by one and need 6 more outs for the win? That's when you call the firm of Joba and Mariano. 1-800-4THESAV.
-Did I just see Queen Latifah at the Cleveland pre-game? Is she from Cleveland? I thought she was Jersey.
-Really dude? Perspiration is moisture? REALLY? Thank you Mr. Wizard. By the by, great product placement by Off!
-The Indians have stranded 6 leadoff hitters so far this game. Let's hope it gets to 7. Joba doesn't help himself as the wild pitch moves Sizemore to second. The bunt moves him to third. Man on third, one out for Travis Hafner. Irresistible force - meet immovable object. Line drive - WHAT A PLAY BY DOUGGIE FRESH - great reaction.
-That sucked. Wild pitch - here comes Sizemore. Gotta check the replay to see if he was safe...and it looks like he was. Lousy insects. Whenever they start showing closeups, I throw up a little in my mouth. Those suckers are all over Joba and he is pretty much nowhere near the plate. Come on Joba - one more out so the Yankees can take the lead back in the top of the ninth.
-Top of the ninth. Top of the order up...this is where that vaunted Yankee lineup should earn its paycheck. So far, they've put up a horrible 2 hits and 2 walks in 27 plate appearances. Not. Good. Enough. Let's hope the flies mess up Carmona as much as they did Joba.
-I'm not one to comment on someone's fashion choices but I'll say this; that is a very interesting suit/tie combo from Craig Sager.
-Good hustle by Bobby Abreu and not exactly a crisp play from Johnny Pheralta puts Abreu on first and brings A-Rod to the plate. Of course. Who else would be be up in this situation? Naturally, A-Rod works the count to a more dramatic 1-2 so it will be more dramatic when he comes through, right? Well, we'll see. Heck of an at-bat so far from A-Rod. Carmona is dealing some nasty pitches but A-Rod is fighting them off. Well - not that last pitch. A-Rod down on strikes on the ninth pitch of the at-bat on 95 mph heat from Carmona. Great performance by the kid and a start they will be talking about in Cleveland for a long time.
-Bottom of the ninth. Mo in to keep the score tied and he has to start off against Willie Mays Hayes...oh wait, that's Kenny Lofton. Never mind. In any case, Mo mows him down...as well as the rest of the side in 8 pitches.
-Top of the tenth. Matsui is not exactly inspring confidence up there. Jorge with a very good at-bat but lines out to right. Robbie Cano with what seems to be a trend for him tonight - swinging on the first pitch.
-They just posted Carmona's GB-FB ratio: 18-4. Wang (when he's right) like.
-Tony Gwynn with a bad comment. "Both teams showing how they got here - pitching" Really Tony? Couldn't have anything to do with the 950 runs or so that the Yanks scored this season, right?
-Bottom of the tenth - great at-bat by Sizemore. A thirteen pitch at bat that culminates in a dropped third strike from Posada (who is having a pretty bad series all around) who throws the ball over Doug M. at first (Robbie backing up makes the save). A bunt moves Sizemore to second and here comes Hafner with a man on (again). Is it too much to ask for to get Hafner (and then Garko, I would intentionally walk Martinez) to remain hitless with RISP for the game? Well, Mo gets Hafner to ground out and IBBs Victor so here we go. Mo vs. Garko - winning run on third. On the third pitch, Mo hits Garko...say what you will but Garko did not move. He wanted to get hit in that situation and he had an elbow guard on so he took it. Here's Pheralta with the bases loaded...Mo at 37 pitches and 1-2 on Pheralta. He STRUCK HIM OUT. Thank you Mo!
-Can we PLEASE get some offense!?! No such luck from Melky as he puts up a soft fly to right field. Shelley in for Mientkiewicz to try to show a little Chad Curtis type magic. Again, no such luck - good AB though after getting to an 0-2 count. Rafael Perez ends up striking out Johnny Damon on four pitches to close out the inning. Yankees are now 3 for 35 - that's .086 for those keeping track at home.
-Bottom of the 11th and the Indians make it to the soft part of the Yankee pen. Here comes Vizcaino and I am honestly scared to death of what he's gonna be throwing. I hope the rest helped him out...because his 10.13 ERA in September was not exactly awe-inspiring. He doesn't start off well as he walks Lofton on 4 straight pitches. Vizcaino is slow to the plate so Lofton stealing is a very real possibility. He doesn't have to steal as after going 0-2 on Guiterrez, Vizcaino gives up a single to the left side. First and second, no out and Casey Blake lays down a beautiful bunt so second and third one out. IBB for Sizemore and here comes Asdrubal Cabrera with the bases loaded. Also, Damon gets taken out (on account of his weak arm) for Bronson Sardinha...and the infield (and outfield) comes in to try to prevent the winning run from scoring.
-How many times can you give the Indians chances before they come through? 1-2 on Cabrera at this point. He POPS HIM UP TO THE INFIELD! Wow. Here comes Hafner again...the man with the .398 career OBP so a walk is a very real possibility. At least the infield and outfield can move back now. Still, is Hafner due? 2-1 count now. Big swing and a miss and it's 2-2. Slider misses badly - 3-2 count. Come on Luis - can Pronk beat the Viz?
Yes he can. Hafner with the single to right. Yankees lose a heartbreaker. That was an amazing and frustrating game of baseball that lasted four and a half hours. If you're a Yankees fan - you gotta feel sick right now. After a fantastic performance by Andy...to be undone by bugs. Man, that sucks...seriously, I feel like someone punched me in the gut...and I have no energy left.
All right Yankees, make like 96, when down 0-2, all you gotta do is win the rest of them...because that's the only option you got left. Go do this.
-Non-baseball, TBS-related rant:
WHAT IS FRANK TV ABOUT? I mean, I've seen Frank's stand up special on Comedy Central and I thought it was pretty good...but does he just do impersonations? Because if that's it - he just went through a ton of material in all these different commercials (I've counted six so far).
More TBS notes: Frank Thomas comes off as a pretty good guy; knowledgeable but he definitely needs some work to become a better speaker. More often than not, the video clip is over before he starts his observation. Still, I'm not gonna be the guy to tell him to work on that - look at the size guy's dome! He would hurt me.
As for the rest of the panel, I actually find myself really enjoying Cal Ripken. He is well-spoken, provides good observations and is candid. I personally can't ask for much more than that.
-Man, Grady Sizemore can fly. He went first to third as quick as anyone I've seen not named Ichiro!
-Win or lose - even if Pettitte doesn't get another out in the game, he has done an unbelieveable job this start. 5 times this game, the Indians have gotten the leadoff man on and 5 times, Andy's left the inning unscathed. Unbelievable job - this is why he was brought back.
-Top of the 7th, Abreu gets on because of a fielding error. With the heart of the order up, you gotta find a way to get that run home. I know it's easier said than done...but still. Also, if Matsui comes up with RISP, PINCH HIT. For the sake of my sanity, please pinch hit for Godzilla.
-A-Rod is not helping his cause right now...and I'm not trying to make excuses, but you gotta tip your hat to the pitcher on this as well. Also, Matsui stays in...come on Hideki, make Joe look good for keeping you in there and me look bad for doubting you. Hideki grounds out...and Jorge gets good wood on the ball but a great jump and the speed of Sizemore makes it the third out.
-Pettitte is at 88 pitches through 6 and one-third with a man on second and the Yankee killer Kenny Lofton up at the plate. First things first, start warming up Joba and Viz.
-92 pitches, first and second with one out. Here comes Joe and in comes Joba. If this was the Stadium, Pettitte would be getting a standing O. For now, he has to live with me clapping for him from Philly...I hope he can hear me. Heck of a performance.
-Joba to Franklin Guitterez: You can't see me. What stuff this kid has...
-Joba to Casey Blake: 99 mph to start...fly ball to right. Yankees out of the inning. 5 pitches, all strikes, 2 outs. See Farnsworth? THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE!
-Heh. Frank Caliendo/Al Pacino makes a good point. Dane Cook - does anyone think that there's two Octobers? Also, of all the guys I would think off...when I think baseball...I don't think Dane Cook. My choice would have been Alyssa Milano...what? She knows her baseball! She's a Dodger's fan but hey, no one's perfect.
-Carmona has been spectacular. Wow. Great stuff and not yet 24. He, C.C. and Sizemore give the Indians a heck of a core to build around.
-Mosquitoes being used as a segue to a joke about the Nats (Nationals) being gnats during the last week...TBS - we know comedy.
-The Yankees go down easy in the top of the 8th. I think that the flies gave Carmona more trouble than the Yankees did in that inning.
-Leading by one and need 6 more outs for the win? That's when you call the firm of Joba and Mariano. 1-800-4THESAV.
-Did I just see Queen Latifah at the Cleveland pre-game? Is she from Cleveland? I thought she was Jersey.
-Really dude? Perspiration is moisture? REALLY? Thank you Mr. Wizard. By the by, great product placement by Off!
-The Indians have stranded 6 leadoff hitters so far this game. Let's hope it gets to 7. Joba doesn't help himself as the wild pitch moves Sizemore to second. The bunt moves him to third. Man on third, one out for Travis Hafner. Irresistible force - meet immovable object. Line drive - WHAT A PLAY BY DOUGGIE FRESH - great reaction.
-That sucked. Wild pitch - here comes Sizemore. Gotta check the replay to see if he was safe...and it looks like he was. Lousy insects. Whenever they start showing closeups, I throw up a little in my mouth. Those suckers are all over Joba and he is pretty much nowhere near the plate. Come on Joba - one more out so the Yankees can take the lead back in the top of the ninth.
-Top of the ninth. Top of the order up...this is where that vaunted Yankee lineup should earn its paycheck. So far, they've put up a horrible 2 hits and 2 walks in 27 plate appearances. Not. Good. Enough. Let's hope the flies mess up Carmona as much as they did Joba.
-I'm not one to comment on someone's fashion choices but I'll say this; that is a very interesting suit/tie combo from Craig Sager.
-Good hustle by Bobby Abreu and not exactly a crisp play from Johnny Pheralta puts Abreu on first and brings A-Rod to the plate. Of course. Who else would be be up in this situation? Naturally, A-Rod works the count to a more dramatic 1-2 so it will be more dramatic when he comes through, right? Well, we'll see. Heck of an at-bat so far from A-Rod. Carmona is dealing some nasty pitches but A-Rod is fighting them off. Well - not that last pitch. A-Rod down on strikes on the ninth pitch of the at-bat on 95 mph heat from Carmona. Great performance by the kid and a start they will be talking about in Cleveland for a long time.
-Bottom of the ninth. Mo in to keep the score tied and he has to start off against Willie Mays Hayes...oh wait, that's Kenny Lofton. Never mind. In any case, Mo mows him down...as well as the rest of the side in 8 pitches.
-Top of the tenth. Matsui is not exactly inspring confidence up there. Jorge with a very good at-bat but lines out to right. Robbie Cano with what seems to be a trend for him tonight - swinging on the first pitch.
-They just posted Carmona's GB-FB ratio: 18-4. Wang (when he's right) like.
-Tony Gwynn with a bad comment. "Both teams showing how they got here - pitching" Really Tony? Couldn't have anything to do with the 950 runs or so that the Yanks scored this season, right?
-Bottom of the tenth - great at-bat by Sizemore. A thirteen pitch at bat that culminates in a dropped third strike from Posada (who is having a pretty bad series all around) who throws the ball over Doug M. at first (Robbie backing up makes the save). A bunt moves Sizemore to second and here comes Hafner with a man on (again). Is it too much to ask for to get Hafner (and then Garko, I would intentionally walk Martinez) to remain hitless with RISP for the game? Well, Mo gets Hafner to ground out and IBBs Victor so here we go. Mo vs. Garko - winning run on third. On the third pitch, Mo hits Garko...say what you will but Garko did not move. He wanted to get hit in that situation and he had an elbow guard on so he took it. Here's Pheralta with the bases loaded...Mo at 37 pitches and 1-2 on Pheralta. He STRUCK HIM OUT. Thank you Mo!
-Can we PLEASE get some offense!?! No such luck from Melky as he puts up a soft fly to right field. Shelley in for Mientkiewicz to try to show a little Chad Curtis type magic. Again, no such luck - good AB though after getting to an 0-2 count. Rafael Perez ends up striking out Johnny Damon on four pitches to close out the inning. Yankees are now 3 for 35 - that's .086 for those keeping track at home.
-Bottom of the 11th and the Indians make it to the soft part of the Yankee pen. Here comes Vizcaino and I am honestly scared to death of what he's gonna be throwing. I hope the rest helped him out...because his 10.13 ERA in September was not exactly awe-inspiring. He doesn't start off well as he walks Lofton on 4 straight pitches. Vizcaino is slow to the plate so Lofton stealing is a very real possibility. He doesn't have to steal as after going 0-2 on Guiterrez, Vizcaino gives up a single to the left side. First and second, no out and Casey Blake lays down a beautiful bunt so second and third one out. IBB for Sizemore and here comes Asdrubal Cabrera with the bases loaded. Also, Damon gets taken out (on account of his weak arm) for Bronson Sardinha...and the infield (and outfield) comes in to try to prevent the winning run from scoring.
-How many times can you give the Indians chances before they come through? 1-2 on Cabrera at this point. He POPS HIM UP TO THE INFIELD! Wow. Here comes Hafner again...the man with the .398 career OBP so a walk is a very real possibility. At least the infield and outfield can move back now. Still, is Hafner due? 2-1 count now. Big swing and a miss and it's 2-2. Slider misses badly - 3-2 count. Come on Luis - can Pronk beat the Viz?
Yes he can. Hafner with the single to right. Yankees lose a heartbreaker. That was an amazing and frustrating game of baseball that lasted four and a half hours. If you're a Yankees fan - you gotta feel sick right now. After a fantastic performance by Andy...to be undone by bugs. Man, that sucks...seriously, I feel like someone punched me in the gut...and I have no energy left.
All right Yankees, make like 96, when down 0-2, all you gotta do is win the rest of them...because that's the only option you got left. Go do this.
